How to Remove Dog Urine Odors From Laundry

Lisa McQuerrey

Maybe Fido curled up in a warm basket of clean laundry and had an accident, or maybe Max snuck into your bed and left you a surprise. Cleaning pet stains and odors is a chore when they're on the floor, but when they get on clothing, bedding or laundry, it often takes a multistep process to fully eradicate the smell.

Give It a Sniff

Smell the laundry items once they've gone through a wash cycle. If you can still smell traces of urine, repeat the wash cycle using an enzymatic cleaner instead of baking soda and detergent. Follow the directions on the bottle -- it may suggest you run a soak cycle so the enzymes can do their job.

Let It Dry

When you're convinced the urine is gone, air-dry your laundry -- don't use the dryer. Smell the items once they're dry and go through the steps once again if urine odor remains.

Commercial Cleaning

If your dog urinates on something heavy, like a comforter, you may be better served going to a commercial laundromat where you can use an oversize washing machine. Another option is dry cleaning -- commercial cleaners often can apply special agents to remove smells. Call in advance and ask if they specialize in removing pet odors.

Prevention

Keep laundry away from your dog. Make sure dirty clothes end up in hampers rather than on the floor, and don't let clean laundry sit around where your dog can access it.